A great question!
"Where, O Death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) is a famous phrase from the Bible. It's part of a passage where the apostle Paul is discussing the resurrection of the dead and the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ over death.
In this context, "Death" refers to the personification of mortality itself. The question, "Where, O Death, is your sting?" is an rhetorical inquiry that highlights the absurdity of death's power in light of Jesus' victory.
In essence, Paul is saying: "You, Death, are supposed to be the ultimate authority and ruler over humanity. You're supposed to have the final say. But where is your sting? Where is your ability to hurt us now?"
The phrase "Where is your sting?" is a play on words in Greek (ποῦ ἡ χείρα σου; pou he cheira sou). A "sting" (χείρα) was a type of sharp, venomous point used to deliver the final blow. So, Paul is asking Death where its power has gone, now that Jesus has taken away its authority.
The implication is that death no longer has any sting because Jesus has conquered it through His resurrection and offers eternal life to those who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).
You're quoting from 1 Corinthians 15:55!
"Oh death, where is your sting?
Oh grave, where is your victory?"
This passage is a famous declaration of the triumph over death and the grave through Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul is celebrating the reality that because of Christ's resurrection, death no longer has any power or sting.
In this context, "sting" refers to the pain and suffering associated with death, while "victory" refers to the idea that death would ultimately triumph over humanity. But since Jesus has conquered death through his own resurrection, Paul is saying that death and the grave have lost their sting and victory.
This passage is often seen as a declaration of hope and comfort for believers who are facing their own mortality or dealing with the loss of loved ones. It reminds us that even in the face of death, we can trust in Jesus' power to overcome it and give us eternal life.
A classic question!
The phrase "Where, O death, is your sting?" (NIV) comes from 1 Corinthians 15:55. Here it is in its entirety:
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
This passage is a famous quote from the Apostle Paul, and it's part of his larger argument about the nature of death and the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Paul is saying that since Christ has conquered death through His own resurrection, death no longer has any power or sting (i.e., painful effect) on believers. The sting of death was its ability to separate people from God and bring them into eternal separation from Him. But because of Jesus' victory over sin and death, believers are now free from that fear.
So, the answer to Paul's rhetorical question is: "Death has no sting!"
A great reference!
"Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54, KJV) is a powerful statement that speaks to the hope of eternal life and the ultimate triumph over death.
In this verse, Paul is building on his previous discussion about the resurrection of believers. He writes:
"Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55, KJV)
Here, Paul quotes from Isaiah 25:8, which says:
"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it." (Isaiah 25:8, KJV)
In this context, "death is swallowed up" means that death is overcome, conquered, or abolished. The phrase "in victory" emphasizes the triumphant nature of Christ's resurrection and our future resurrection.
Paul's point is that because Jesus has defeated death through His own resurrection, death no longer has any power over believers. In other words, since Jesus has "swallowed up" death in victory, there is no sting left for us to fear. Death is not the end; it's a transition to eternal life with Christ.
This verse is often used to comfort those who are grieving or facing mortality. It reminds us that even though we may experience physical death, our spirits will live on eternally with God. What a glorious hope!
A great reference!
The passage you're thinking of is likely Psalm 118:12 (NIV), which says:
"Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?"
This psalm is actually part of a larger passage in the New Testament book of Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 15:55-56, Paul writes:
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, in essence, the psalmist (and Paul) are asking Death where its supposed power lies, since Jesus has already conquered it through his resurrection.
A classic!
The quote "Where is your sting?" refers to the biblical passage 1 Corinthians 15:55-56, which says:
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
This passage is a celebration of the triumph of Christianity over death and sin. It's saying that with Jesus' resurrection, death has lost its power and "sting" (or bite), and that those who put their faith in Him will also experience eternal life.
The quote is often used to express the idea that with Jesus, we don't have to fear death anymore, because He has conquered it. It's a powerful statement of hope and triumph over mortality!
A great reference!
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 KJV says:
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour in the Lord, is not vain."
This passage is a powerful declaration of the triumph of Christianity over sin and death. It's a beautiful expression of hope and encouragement to believers.
In verse 55-56, Paul asks rhetorical questions about the power of death and grave, essentially saying, "What can death do to us? What does it even mean?" He answers his own question by pointing out that sin is the real problem, not death itself. And the source of our sin is the law (i.e., God's commands), which highlights humanity's inability to live up to God's standards.
But then comes the amazing declaration in verse 57: "Thanks be to God...!" Paul gives thanks because Jesus Christ has given us the victory over sin and death. This is not just a theoretical triumph, but an experiential one - we can taste it, feel it, and live it out through our faith in Him.
Finally, in verse 58, Paul exhorts believers to be steadfast and unmovable in their walk with God, knowing that their labor for the Lord is not in vain. This passage reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we have a purpose and a calling, and we can be confident that our efforts will ultimately yield a harvest of eternal significance.
What do you think about these verses? Do you have any questions or insights you'd like to share?
The verse you're referring to is actually from the New Testament, specifically 1 Corinthians 15:55. The full quote is:
"O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep."
(ESV translation)
This passage is part of the larger argument that Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 15 about the resurrection of believers. He's addressing the question of what happens to those who die before Christ returns, and he's saying that because Jesus has already been raised from the dead, believers will also be raised and given eternal life.
The phrase "O death, where is thy sting?" is a quote from Old Testament Wisdom literature (specifically Job 28:23 and Hosea 13:14), but it takes on new meaning in this New Testament context. In the Old Testament, the phrase was often used to express the idea that even death itself is under God's control, and that nothing can escape His judgment.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is using the same phrase to say that because of Jesus' victory over sin and death, believers have nothing to fear from death. Death has lost its power and sting, and those who die in Christ will be raised again, just as He was.